Around Yucaipa: Weekly News Roundup: November 25

Yucaipa news from the past week. (Note: if the news site requires a free login, try bugmenot):

• Congratulations to Rick LeVan, pre-algebra and life science teacher at Canyon Middle School, who has been named a California Teacher of the Year 2007. There have been several articles about his award:

Nov. 16, Press-Enterprise, "Middle-school teacher surprised by honor"
Nov. 17, San Bernardino Sun, "Area teacher joins exclusive quintet"
Nov. 24, News Mirror, "Yucaipa's Rick LeVan is a State Teacher of the Year"
Nov. 24, San Bernardino Sun, "Yucaipa teacher earns top honor" OUR VIEW: Middle-school teacher sets the standard for how to keep math, science interesting"

According to the News Mirror, "And as a testament to his innovative teaching style, as dignitaries were lining up for pictures LeVan had the students sing a song he uses to teach them about genetics." What song was that? Inquiring minds (or at least I) want to know.

• Nov. 18, San Bernardino Sun "Tribal members teachers for day"

"Friday, several Mentone fourth-graders gathered at the campus to attend "California's First Cultures: A Celebration at Crafton Hills (Waat)."

The event gave the young students a chance to learn more about Southern California's indigenous people.

The fourth-graders who took part in Friday's activities listened to - and sang - traditional songs, took in a history lesson and learned about basket-making techniques. "

• I link to several news articles in my post about the Jefferson Fire. It is now 100% contained. We should all be thankful for the 100s of firefighters that risked themselves (and worked over the holidays) to get the fire under control, and that there were no injuries. Here are a couple of updated articles:

Nov. 22, Press-Enterprise "Lost hiker sparks wildfire" (with some great photos)
Nov. 22, Press-Enterprise "Yucaipa fire close to being contained"
A hiker in the San Bernardino National Forest was planning to meet up with four friends around 7 p.m. He was late and tried to find them.
After searching for his friends for three hours, the man decided to set a signal fire, Miller said.
It is possible the man, whose name was not released, could face fines or criminal changes because fires of any kind are not permitted in this area, Miller said.
Nov. 23, San Bernardino Sun "Blaze sparked by lost camper"
Nov. 23, Los Angeles Times "Lost camper starts fire near Yucaipa"
Nov. 24, Redlands Daily Facts "Yucaipa fire 100 percent contained."
Nov. 24, News Mirror, "Jefferson Fire 100% contained. Residents express thanks on Thanksgiving"

• Lance Flett, a young "human directional" helping draw prospective home buyers into Chapman Heights' "The Links" development had his 10 seconds of fame (and photograph) in the New York Times!

Article: Nov. 19, New York Times,
"The Signs of a Cooling Market in California"

They also talked to sign twirler Sierra Butler:

“It’s pretty good hours, good pay,” said Sierra Butler, 15, a sign twirler in Yucaipa. “It’s a really easy job to start the working experience. That’s why I did it.”

Apparently the practice has been banned in a number of local cities, including Riverside and El Cajon for distracting traffic and "creating blight". The article points out that the the boom in twirlers may be a sign of a cooling local housing market.

As the housing market cools here in the exurbs of Los Angeles and elsewhere, builders are relying on the frantic motion of these young workers to catch the attention of a dwindling number of buyers.